Get to Know Your Plastic Surgeon

If you are considering plastic surgery, finding the right doctor is crucial. Plastic surgery is something you will have to live with for the rest of your life, so you want to make sure your doctor is an experienced surgeon who shares your vision and is offering you the best possible care. Here are some things you might want to think about when you are trying to find the plastic surgeon that is right for you.

Are Reviews Important? Probably the first thing people do when they are looking for plastic surgeons, or any business or service, is to look at online reviews. After all, most people have a computer on hand, so for many, it’s a great way to weed out the best candidates without having to do much leg work.

However, those that are relying on reviews need to be discerning and not take what they are reading at face value. Bad reviews could be written by disgruntled former employees who may have been let go by the company. It is always advisable to check the validity of reviews and talk to patients who have had work done by the doctors, rather than simply accepting that a review is true and accurate.

Make Sure Your Surgeon is Board Certified: Most people think that a state medical board license is all a surgeon needs to make him a qualified practitioner. However, the government does not require that a surgeon be specifically trained in the procedures they offer. Because of this, many doctors who are licensed for general surgery hop on the cosmetic surgery bandwagon.

To avoid this, ask your doctor, specifically, is he or she is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. You can also consult the ABCS web site to find a cosmetic surgeon in your area. Follow up by asking surgeons about their training in specific procedures that you may be looking for.

Consider Your Surgeon’s Aesthetic Sense: We all have different ideas of aesthetic beauty, and it’s important that your surgeon shares your vision. To determine if this is the case, it’s a good idea to look at before and after pictures of your surgeon’s work. You particularly want to look for other patients that may have similar features to yours in the area where surgery is desired. You also want to make sure the doctor is somewhat consistent in his or her results.

How Does Your Surgeon and His Staff Make You Feel? Surgery is a big deal so it’s important to feel comfortable with your doctor and his staff. You need to make sure they are trustworthy, friendly and helpful. You also need to be certain the staff will meet your needs in a timely manner. A prompt response could be valuable if there are post-surgery concerns.

Finding the right surgeon for cosmetic surgery is a big part of whether you will be happy with your results or not. If you are not happy with the way you look, it defeats the point of the surgery and it could make for more expenses down the road if corrective procedures are needed. Those considering plastic surgery are advised to go beyond what they read on the internet, and really do their homework, visiting doctor’s offices and talking to other patients before making this important choice.